Letter To Narayan Murthy (Infosys)

Dear Sir,
It is indeed an honor that one of the most Respected Indians is reading my letter today. It’s been a long time that I was mulling about writing to you, but as you know, we IT people are busy (without work, sometimes) and under observation in offices. So, I kept on postponing this communication [I hope it does not end up being one way communication] What prompted me to write to you was a piece written by you in Indian Express that IT alone would not be able to make much difference. All sectors including Manufacturing and Agriculture have to come together to take the nation further. I thought that see this person, how much he is concerned about India. Even now after establishing Infosys in global bigwigs, he is concerned about India and Indian economy and not gone to US in a cozy Villa or Farmhouse.I agree with you, not less than my own self. You are right (as always). I see you as a Leader, a visionary (not like President Kalaam. who wrote India 2020 and kept quite). I admire you and follow what you say. Being ethical, honest, getting up early, sincere to work etc is what I have learn from you. But as they say, love brings hate too; I see some drawbacks in my ideal personality (that is YOU) which came to my mind because of long observation of you, your words and actions.In you, I (and many of my friends) see a person who should be at the helm of affairs in this country. You should be there to guide this country of highly ill-informed, mislead, misjudged, ill-treated, illiterate and many more Ill’s. We keep thinking about how things should be. We keep on dreaming how we would have GREAT NATION to live in. I always get frustrated to learn that some politician did this, some criminal did that, Courts are slow, Police is corrupt, System is corrupt, public property was burnt, girls were burnt alive in a bus and many more. I feel like taking a gun and shooting all those who are at fault. Sometimes I get frustrated so much that I feel like killing every criminal. No, not because I have suffered, it's because I am not able to do anything for my country. I wish you could understand how much energy flows up and down in this age (you might have observed it in your young age I believe). But unfortunately, if I do something like that, I would be declared to be a Terrorist, a tyrant. Nobody knows me so I can’t make much difference although I want to. You know the system well. You are also sad about it, you have also thought creatively/out of the box (as u say) to break all the system-created hurdles in our way to prosperity (a 2 Billion Co is enough of example).But somewhere I smell a “no-no” attitude in your thinking and actions. You want the system to change but you don’t want to join the fight. You want to clean the house but want to avoid the dirt catching your hands. That is what frustrates me even more. If you could come in front of us, to lead the youth, we want to bring down the current day corrupt people from every place in system. Isn’t it too much for you yet? Aren’t you fed up of strikes, killings in name of religions, crimes, looting in every aspect, rising prices of everything Humans require.We need someone whom people know, respect, admire to come in front and take a lead. I am not saying fight elections or something. But please be active to some extent. It was sad to see that NRN refused publicly (in a meeting with Pronnoy Roy and Bill Gates) to enter politics. Sir, you drive simple car and live in simple houses just because youth will follow you and it will bring down the greed and all. Then why not take active part in politics to set the pace among youth. You need not say anything about Laalu, Jayalalitha,Mulayam or anyone (considering Infy’s Business Interest). But sir, you can teach the 50000 workforce of Infy to take interest in this country’s system. I know you can convince all of them. If you start, everyone (including Premji, Shiv Nadar and everyone) will start something on these lines. We need people to know the issues of country. If you are scared of speaking in public, do it internally in Infosys and classify the Speeches/Mailers. Do something sir!!! It is getting late and late by everyday. Waiting for your reply through your actions, Sincerely,
Vinit Vijay
(vinitvijay@ymail.com)

24.10.2009 (Definition Of Pain)

Pain has the ability to destroy the mind and the being. You may be exalted in position, overjoyed at success, happy at company, but were you to be in pain it would rob you of all accomplishments.

If the body cannot respond to the joys of nature and mind, it is best not to have a body at all. I feel a bit despondent and tempted towards the latter. When all else around you buzzes with activity and achievement, when the mind is ready to soar involuntarily, when it lovingly coaxes you into acts of creative ingenious levels and you discover that there is no ‘body’ to acknowledge it, then it is that you want to disassociate yourself with all else and succumb to the misery that has been implanted upon you.

Human lives are full of such painful episodes. You could be in the poorest of health but in the eyes of an admiring mass you would need to put on that brave and positive face. A face that defies defeat and dishonor, pain and misery, distress and discomfort. Ever tried to smile continuously in grievous pain, ever never failed to wave back at an ecstatic fan irrespective of the state of the mind ? We are a tribe that get subjected to such odds in our lives. We are a tribe that shall be pulled up and over for an act that does not suit the convenience of the other. We are a tribe that are expected to be more than a hundred percent in more than one occasion, despite handicaps. We are a tribe that when you resist or complain, status, position and wealth shall be thrown about you. Oh.. you are a man, a person of immense responsibilities, this is what comes in your territory and you had better not complain about it.

But just because we have responsibilities, are we devoid of emotion and feeling ? Will every act of ours be leveled in such manner ? When are we supposed to be treated like other normal humans ? Or do we not deserve to be ? Who then will ascertain what we ought to be ? Why should an ‘other’ ascertain what we need to be ? And if for arguments sake we consider this to be applicable, who’s judgment shall we adopt ? Yours or mine ? There are so many confusions !!!

I have many thoughts on this, but now my hand prevents me from any further activity.

My feelings are unabated … though somewhat marred with my condition at present …

No .. I do not expect sympathy or anxiety over what I am .. that would pain me more. Resist and desist then, till I am in your midst again ..

- Vinit Vijay .

(vinitvijay@ymail.com)

06.10.2009 (My Silence)

I acknowledge the more serious concerns raised by those with a voice in the public sphere in India with regard to the potential cultural significance and ramifications of the most private acts of the most public individuals, particularly when India is passing through a time of exciting change and dramatic flux, both within its borders and also within a wider global context.

I also acknowledge that the spheres of the public and private are strenuously contested in the modern world, as I believe they should be and should always be so, open to change and modification of their boundaries. This is essential for the sake of transparency against corruption and also to maintain a healthy culture of civic ethics. Public identities are always thus contested, between the public and private spheres, and within the public sphere itself. The same applies to private ones, for that matter. But public and private identities simply cannot be wholly collapsed into each other, for that would create injustice: they are two distinct kinds of identities for good reason.

I believe in the collective right to freedom of information as much as I do the individual right to privacy. But it is the ambit of our democratically elected representatives to debate the particular balance of these rights at any given time and adjust them to correspond, in formal law, with the particular values and circumstances of our civic culture.

I am not in a position that would give justification to my personal views on the subject. Thus I remain silent.

I am, all the same, aware that it is for all of us our duty as citizens to preserve a civic ethic of responsibility to protect these defined rights. I have thus tried to act accordingly as an individual, with what success I do not know. By contrast, I do feel that we owe much gratitude to the professional media in this country. Its individual journalists, writers and reporters are the greatest champions of our freedoms. I do believe that the Indian media is responsible to our democratic and liberal way of life in this great nation. A free media must also be a just and fair media, where there is a clear distinction between private opinion and public rational argument, where their information is soundly verified by factual evidence, where there is a judicious balance of debate. I salute their ideals and achievements.

I would also like to say that I do take note of the particular focus of some in the media on my private religious practice and beliefs. I am always keen to learn, but regardless of its welcome personal educative content on the subject of more abstruse rites and rituals, I can appreciate the greater concern regarding the possibility of their wider cultural ramifications, although I would add that I have absolutely no intent to set a wider example by my private acts of devotion. However, I am also aware that intent is not enough.

It is more than a possibility that all complex and diverse societies with a secular state are equally fragile, where the principles of mutual tolerance and mutual respect that sustain peaceful co-existence between different religious and cultural communities within the whole must be renewed constantly in practice. Eternal vigilance is indeed the price of freedom, of all manner of freedoms, and so any apparent sign of public sectarian tendencies must indeed be treated as a serious concern. Nevertheless, I am aware that one must equally guard against the pursuit of vigilance with excessive enthusiasm.

Therefore, to strengthen mere intent and clear any misunderstanding on the issue, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly affirm my loyalty, not only to the profoundly democratic society and liberal culture, but also to the secular state, of India. As I think a secular state a necessity in order to preserve the right of the individual to their private religion or to none at all, so I will refrain from discussing my own religious beliefs and practices. And so, I remain silent.

Anyone in general is free to draw what conclusions it may, based on accurate fact, or hearsay, or even the most surreal rumor. They are free to choose whom they believe and trust, for after all, there is more than one newspaper, journal, news channel or website at their disposal. They are free to seek the truth, or to seek entertainment, as they wish.

You have felt that “these practices show a medieval element, show a problem that runs through our society.

Quite obviously the observations are defeated at the very outset because the very nature and premise of your thoughts emanate from a wrong base. In the absence of any “practices” alleged to have been committed and strongly denied by us, the question whether it shows a “medieval element” or not is irrelevant. Your fear that this is a problem that “runs through out society” may be relevant. It could perhaps be entertained as a subject for debate.
But it is beyond the reach of my intellectual capacity to comment upon.

Your other observation, wrongly assuming that we follow superstitious beliefs, directs us to go to religious heads for medical relief as opposed to a scientific professional in the shape of a doctor. Here too the argument is defeated because of my earlier notings.
I need your comments on it.........
-- Vinit Vijay .
(vinitvijay@ymail.com)

05.10.2009

I acknowledge the more serious concerns raised by those with a voice in the public sphere in India with regard to the potential cultural significance and ramifications of the most private acts of the most public individuals, particularly when India is passing through a time of exciting change and dramatic flux, both within its borders and also within a wider global context.

I also acknowledge that the spheres of the public and private are strenuously contested in the modern world, as I believe they should be and should always be so, open to change and modification of their boundaries. This is essential for the sake of transparency against corruption and also to maintain a healthy culture of civic ethics. Public identities are always thus contested, between the public and private spheres, and within the public sphere itself. The same applies to private ones, for that matter. But public and private identities simply cannot be wholly collapsed into each other, for that would create injustice: they are two distinct kinds of identities for good reason.

I believe in the collective right to freedom of information as much as I do the individual right to privacy. But it is the ambit of our democratically elected representatives to debate the particular balance of these rights at any given time and adjust them to correspond, in formal law, with the particular values and circumstances of our civic culture.

I am not in a position that would give justification to my personal views on the subject. Thus I remain silent.

I am, all the same, aware that it is for all of us our duty as citizens to preserve a civic ethic of responsibility to protect these defined rights. I have thus tried to act accordingly as an individual, with what success I do not know. By contrast, I do feel that we owe much gratitude to the professional media in this country. Its individual journalists, writers and reporters are the greatest champions of our freedoms. I do believe that the Indian media is responsible to our democratic and liberal way of life in this great nation. A free media must also be a just and fair media, where there is a clear distinction between private opinion and public rational argument, where their information is soundly verified by factual evidence, where there is a judicious balance of debate. I salute their ideals and achievements.

I would also like to say that I do take note of the particular focus of some in the media on my private religious practice and beliefs. I am always keen to learn, but regardless of its welcome personal educative content on the subject of more abstruse rites and rituals, I can appreciate the greater concern regarding the possibility of their wider cultural ramifications, although I would add that I have absolutely no intent to set a wider example by my private acts of devotion. However, I am also aware that intent is not enough.

It is more than a possibility that all complex and diverse societies with a secular state are equally fragile, where the principles of mutual tolerance and mutual respect that sustain peaceful co-existence between different religious and cultural communities within the whole must be renewed constantly in practice. Eternal vigilance is indeed the price of freedom, of all manner of freedoms, and so any apparent sign of public sectarian tendencies must indeed be treated as a serious concern. Nevertheless, I am aware that one must equally guard against the pursuit of vigilance with excessive enthusiasm.

Therefore, to strengthen mere intent and clear any misunderstanding on the issue, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly affirm my loyalty, not only to the profoundly democratic society and liberal culture, but also to the secular state, of India. As I think a secular state a necessity in order to preserve the right of the individual to their private religion or to none at all, so I will refrain from discussing my own religious beliefs and practices in my public capacity. And so, I remain silent.

The public in general is free to draw what conclusions it may, based on accurate fact, or hearsay, or even the most surreal rumour. They are free to choose whom they believe and trust, for after all, there is more than one newspaper, journal, news channel or website at their disposal. They are free to seek the truth, or to seek entertainment, as they wish.

These practices show a medieval element, show a problem that runs through our society strengthening it with comments.

Quite obviously the observations are defeated at the very outset because the very nature and premise of the thoughts emanate from a wrong base. In the absence of any “practices” alleged to have been committed and strongly denied by us, the question whether it shows a “medieval element” or not is irrelevant. Your fear that this is a problem that “runs through out society” may be relevant. It could perhaps be entertained as a subject for debate.
But it is beyond the reach of my intellectual capacity to comment upon.

-- Vinit Vijay .

(vinitvijay@ymail.com)

01.10.2009 (Approvals In Life)

‘Realization’ yesterday sent many in remorse. There was apprehension on what exactly was causing the desire for a realization to our limits. And many felt that there had perhaps been an incident that may have caused this trait of negativism. No, there was nothing of the sort, but yes there was a feeling of wanting to revisit myself and to face it and talk about it to people.

I believe just as ‘realization’ becomes topical when we comment upon limits, so also does ‘approval’. It is not an uncommon expression and neither does it not have the importance of presence in the life of us mortals.

We seek approval from elders, from peers, from friends and colleagues. An approval signifies concurrence in thought word and deed. It is important that we are told or made aware of that an approval has taken place. It confirms, what one may have decided individually, but not been too confident of. At my work, we seek approval from seniors.

At our work station there will always run approval - on the work that was commissioned to us, on its integrity, its competence.

In public life we constantly seek approval. We work on the approved shoulders of those who mattered and those that would bring on the responsibility. Polity approval puts the seat of power onto one individual - the candidates run into each other on an even playing field, but the individual person exercising his or her democratic right, votes his approval. Their approval remains with us for 5 years ! We approve our life partners through marriage. It is one of the most strongest approvals that a human makes. Just the power of the words ‘I do’ approve each other for a lifetime. Look at the sanctity of those approved words. Two humans hitherto unknown to each other spend a lifetime together as husband and wife, on an approval.

It is approved that a nation shall go to war with its neighbor or at some distance . The action has been approved through the rights given to those that sought our approval. We approve the house we choose to live in, its decor, its capacity and its final upkeep. We approve of our staff. We approve who shall be entertained in the house and when and how. We approve much ….

Approval then is an integral part of our existence. It rings true at all turns.

I approved the existence of the blog and you approved of it by coming to it and reading it.

When life is full of so many approvals, which is the approval that you have approved to be the best ? Answer me, for I await your response .

Aadaab, Satsriakaal, good night, namaste…

- Vinit Vijay .

(vinitvijay@ymail.com)

27.09.2009 (A Day Before My Birthday)

Everyone is celebrating Navratri and the atmosphere is filled with the ‘garba’ and dance and music every night ; perhaps the greatest display of mass involvement any where in the world.

It is a moment of festivity in the Jews too I believe and then later in the month, Halloween. It is not mere coincidence that different faiths celebrate at the same time of the year. Beliefs are different but the reasons the same. Dear Lord, Allah, Bhagwan just make it such that we always remain together in celebration, in peace and in harmony. Let us not send signals of fear to each other. Let us all respect and embrace each other in happiness. Please remove the ugliness from within us towards the other. Help us to touch one another as companions. Get us to rid ourselves of hate and evil. Fill us voluntarily with understanding, forgiveness and love and remain with us all the time to help and guide us.

Complicated lives come from complicated living. We are our own culprits. We love to design our own complication and then when we have no solution we complicate it further by seeking external recourse. They that provide guidance and succor from our intertwined issues, lead the best lives. They are professionals that have studied human nature and its behavior. The unknown and the magical has always fascinated us.

What does the future hold for me. Will I be successful and prosper, free from illness and adversity. Will those that become family be in health and safe. How long will I live. There isn’t much more that we desire to know before hand. And there are elements in society that thrive on the needs of others. They appear before me from time to time. Not of my accord but of the desire of others who’s company I may keep occasionally. Their dress and face bear divineness. They move and speak in measured tones ; they are after all on a personal call with HIM. They look deep into our systems. They have the power to change and predict and profess and impress. They have trained well. Studied the options of their craft. For in the troubled world we live in they have mastered the art of putting you face to face with the unknown and the magical. And when you bring in belief … your meal is ready to be served, cooked and baked to perfection.

-- Vinit Vijay .

26.09.2009

Messages pour in for the Navratri festival, some known and mostly unknown. To those that come unknown, my acknowledgements and wishes. Those of the known have already been addressed. Festivities begin now with the ‘dandiya’ dances en masse. Large open areas shall be converted into massive dance floors and thousands shall move to the sounds of popular hits of the day to the rhythm of the ‘garba’. The young couples dressed in traditional costumes of Gujarat holding the dandiya and striking them with opposite numbers in a most intricate dance movement. The constant clashing of the sticks creating an incredible atmosphere of happy revelry.

So much variety and color and movement in all our traditional dances. Just unimaginable. Long may the festivals exist and long may the atmosphere of music laughter and song prevail in all our lives.

Traveling out from home always puts in you a sense of disruption. It is home and things are in order and routine, when suddenly we are putting things in bags that we feel shall be necessary on our way out and in different environs. At times we are hesitant to move. Its unsettling the settled. Once out and in strange and newer climes, it takes a while to adjust to the facilities. As time goes by the mind and the body adjusts and then gets comfortable. Soon enough the same procedure of moving out and back to the original shall occur and similar feeling of disruption shall take over. The place and location that felt odd and different, now assumes a position of some permanence and shifting about again conjures some resistance. It happens all the time, with all of us. The human is built psychologically I think to remain anchored in one place. Shifting about from place to place disturbs his nature. Is it any wonder then that some of the most common disputes emanate from disputes over possession. Possession of land, possession of territory, of position. All the wars in the world came about from this most singular factor - someone wanted more and someone refused to part with it. Being settled is by nature our nature. We desire a space which we can call ours. It does not matter what the dimensions be, it should be devoid of another’s presence and claim. It is ‘our’ home, ‘our’ room, ‘my’ car, ‘my’ school …

And once the designation is complete, our undiluted attention is directed towards it. You support a team in any sport and it becomes your obsession. It is our team. And no matter where you are and belong, our team when it plays gets our support.

Caste, creed and religion do the same to us. We don’t come with it written on our heads. It is told to us and we follow. We try to find those that are ‘ours’ and discriminate against those that are ‘theirs’. Simply because we possess one and not the other.

When I put greetings for Eid, or Navratri, Rosh Hashanah and Durga Puja I am sometimes acknowledged for giving position to respective festival, in a manner which expresses at times, surprise. But just because I am from different faith does not bind me in not wishing the other. I am moved by my, sorry ‘our’, Ef our FmXt when they dispel difference and come together in acknowledgement to the festival of the other.

And if this little group of committed family members can do it without provocation and dispute, why cannot several others. Look how we rally together in the others need for prayer, when they are in distress. Look how we all come together in the achievements of the other. Look how many more of us converse with each other, than when we started off. Look how much empathy there is in the troubles and anxieties of one who is unseen and unknown.

But look how disturbed and unconnected the world around us is.

If we can light a small candle, hold a gentle flower, whisper an affection towards the other, what a wonderful world we could create.

23.09.2009

There are many moments in our lives which are governed by realization. Soon after we are born we realize who our parents are. We call them Mother and Father. They are the ones we see the most often and the ones that respond to us when we call them. They shelter us, feed us, educate us, clothe us, look after us. A little later we realize who we are - a boy or a girl. We realize that being a boy is different form being a girl. Our anatomy is different, we look and behave differently. Then as we grow, we realize our status and our faith. We are poor or middle class or rich. We follow a religion and we realize we are different from some of the groups that we move in. We realize our strengths, both physical and mental. Moving on we realize friends and attachments, associations and acquaintances. We realize our closeness to some and our distance from others. Around the same time we realize our physicality - our looks, our bodies, our negatives and positives. And as we step into the world as independent souls we realize what the world is all about and indeed what life is.

Most of this is a natural process. A process that nature leads us into. But there is one that we fail to realize. We fail often to realize our limits. Having started, when to stop. When to stop consumption, excesses, indulgence. I believe that those that can accomplish this very innocuous yet most treasured value of mankind, can and should be able to conduct their lives without the pain that generally accompanies all those that do not.

I feel it is time for me to realize my limits. That is it. No further explanation, no reasons. I must know on my own, I would not need the impressions of others ; their suggestions and their advice. I am a grown man. I have lived and worked for a substantial number of years. The dawn of my realization has appeared and I must reconcile and accept it as must any other of my age. To further ignore it in the heat of ambition. To bolster it with the arrogance of a pride that may only exist within yourself, and not outside.